Jennifer Gray will serve as the Place 6 trustee on the McKinney ISD school board until May 2027.

The MISD board of trustees accepted Stephanie O’Dell’s resignation and unanimously approved appointing Gray to fill the position at an Aug. 17 meeting.

The specifics: Gray will serve as the Place 6 trustee for the remainder of O’Dell’s term, which was set to expire in May 2027, per the district’s website. Gray has been a McKinney resident since 1995 and has been involved with MISD as a parent, volunteer and staff member, according to a district news release.

Her experience includes time as a board member for the McKinney Boyd High School Parent Teacher Organization, campus secretary at Malvern Elementary, substitute teacher, member of multiple bond committees and more, the release states.

Quote of note: “I think she exemplifies the characteristics of a board member,” trustee Corey Homer said.

The Cipher Lounge is now open in McKinney, according to a Visit McKinney news release.

The details: The business offers immersive escape room experiences and a cocktail lounge, the release states. The Cipher Lounge’s signature cocktail menu includes drinks like Rose of Margo, which is made with vodka, passion fruit and raspberry, per its website.

“The lounge features two immersive escape experiences,” the release states.

• 101 S. Chestnut St., McKinney

Tarrant County College is in the process of constructing a new science building and a master-planned community is in development in Celina. Check out some of the latest construction permits filed with the Texas Department fo Licensing and Regulation.

1. Tarrant County College Northeast Campus Science Building: Tarrant County College is constructing a three-story instructional science building with labs, space for student collaboration and faculty office space per a TDLR filing. The new building is part of an $825 million bond program approved by voters in 2019, per previous reporting.

• Location: 828 W. Harwood Road, Hurst
• Estimated timeline: July 1, 2026
• Estimated cost: $85 million

• Location: 913 Cheek Sparker Road, Colleyville
• Estimated timeline: Sept. 1 2026-Oct. 30, 2028
• Estimated cost: $63 million

Many Texas students began returning to the classroom for the 2026-27 school year in mid-August.

Here are five things Texans should know as the 2026-27 school year kicks off.

The details:

• 2026 school accountability ratings issued
• New rule impacts accountability-related school closures
• 100K students using new Texas Education Freedom Accounts
• Public school closures deepen across Texas
• Check out recent public education laws